A convicted death crash biker has been sent back to jail after admitting driving through Perth while disqualified.
Bruce Lamb’s defence agent pleaded with Sheriff Michael Fletcher to take into account the 31-year-old’s claims he only got behind the wheel to buy teething medication for a small child.
The court heard former Forfar man Lamb, who moved to Perth’s Glenturret Place two years ago, ”hugely regretted” his actions on March 24.
However Sheriff Fletcher refused to accept the justification, saying: ”Custody is the only suitable disposal you just cannot get away with doing that.”
Jailing Lamb for four months, the sheriff noted his previous driving offences which include causing death by dangerous driving in 2007 and a driving while disqualified conviction two years ago.
George Keddie (21) was riding pillion without a helmet when Lamb lost control of his one-person offroad Honda trail bike on a forest path near Forfar on March 19 2007.
The machine hit a verge at a bend before careering into a tree at Balmashanner Hill. Mr Keddie struck the tree and suffered fatal brain injuries.
Lamb, then of Graham Crescent, Forfar, was sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment at the High Court in Edinburgh the following year after pleading guilty to the crime. He lost his licence for three years.
Despite the ban, he was caught behind the wheel soon after his release and was incarcerated for a further four months.
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The judge, Lord Kinclaven, told him: ”Those who drive dangerously must realise that all too often the consequence is tragedy.”
Detailing the most recent offence, depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said Lamb was caught by police returning from his local Tesco store shortly before 4pm on March 24 this year.
”His road positioning was not good so the officers carried out some checks and then approached the accused,” Mr Richardson added.
Lawyer Andy Lyall said the 31-year-old made the journey to buy analgesic oral gel because the youngster was in ”agonising” pain. He added that a custodial term would have ”devastating” consequences for the family.
”He moved to Perth from Forfar a few years ago, ”Mr Lyall said.
He said the child ”needed analgesic gel and was screaming.”
He added: ”He now understands it was wrong and is totally remorseful. He followed his heart and not his head.”
The solicitor added: ”The results are potentially catastrophic.”
He said imprisonment may mean his partner will have to give up her house.
Sentencing, Sheriff Fletcher stated: ”This is your second conviction for driving while disqualified and you were first disqualified for a very serious road traffic offence indeed the most serious there can be.
”You just cannot get away with doing that not once and certainly not twice. The only option I have is to impose a custodial term.”